Walter Okas came 2nd in the just concluded Chess Olympiad qualifiers played at Pope Paul memorial hotel – Mengo.
Rated at 2258, Okas scooped 8.0 points out of the possible 11 after drawing as many games as he lost (2).
He outwitted one of the country’s top players Harold Wanyama in the third round albeit losing to Arthur Ssegwanyi and Patrick Kawuma in the 4th and 7th round respectively.
The result granted him his maiden place at the national team and the rather confidence Okas is delighted for having achieved the feat.
“It feels good to finally make it to the national team. I tried it in 2009 but failed. I finished 9th in the qualifiers that year. I’m happy I made it this time around”
Asked about Uganda’s chances of finishing in the top position in the Olympiad, the 30 year old believes Uganda stands a high chance of bettering its previous performances.
“It’s going to be very hard for us but hopefully we make it. We are fielding a much stronger team compared to the past years. The players on all boards in my opinion are better than the previous ones. The only challenge we have is we are most likely to face really good teams. Our ranking has improved so the possibility of us versing top sides is high but we shall give our best. With exception of Farouk and me, the other lads have played at this level and therefore know what it takes”
Uganda will be without IM Elijah Emojong for the first time since he joined the team 2012. Emojong who didn’t take part in the qualifiers for uncertain reasons has been a regular at the team and along with his experience, will be missed by many.
Okas however believes the available players will raise the flag up high and also says Elijah’s absence will “play to our advantage”
“The team is obviously going to miss his experience but I believe the boys who qualified can do it. It’s actually going to play to our advantage. The teams are used to seeing him and they know how good he’s. In his absence, they’ll perhaps undermine us especially me and Farouk and that’s when we’ll shock them”
Uganda will be represented by Arthur Ssegwanyi, Walter Okas, Patrick Kawuma, Harold Wanyama and Farouk Fauza in the Men’s category while Gorreti Angolikin, Grace Kigeri, Phiona Mutesi, Joyce Kabengawo and Christine Namaganda in the ladies at the World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan come September.
